Real Madrid Transfer Rumours: 3 Transfers That Will Not Happen

With the January transfer window in full flow, Real Madrid may take this time to address a number of areas in the squad and get their season back on track.

Gareth Bale has consistently been linked with the club and that deal can certainly be categorised as the more likely of many rumours. But Real Madrid have also been linked to a number of players around Europe that simply do not make any sense.

It's always been hard to envisage Real looking to part with any significant amount of cash during January. But with a few hopeful rumours thrown around prior to the window opening this month, January could be yet another quiet month for Los Blancos.

Wilfried Zaha

Real Madrid need added depth in attack, especially as Kaka struggles to get any real minutes for the team. But a move for Crystal Palace's Wilfried Zaha seems beyond ridiculous.

There's buying young talent for the future, but this one makes very little sense. Zaha is currently playing in the second tier of English football and was only recently given his first cap for England—a cameo against Sweden which lasted around 10 minutes.

The player fancies himself as a talent only surpassed by Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, and while that kind of statement most definitely needs the backdrop of context, it's extremely confident words for a player who is yet to kick a Premier League ball.

What would Zaha bring? At this stage it's difficult to see where his qualities could greatly improve Real Madrid. He'd be a buy for the future, Real would be meeting Palace's valuation for potential rather than anything concrete now.

It was probably all just agent talk while his name was hot in England, but this really was a rumour from way out in left field.

Ashley Cole

Firstly, there should be questions raised as to why Chelsea would look to move on one of Europe's best full-backs and all the experience Ashley Cole provides. Then, there should be the question as to why Real Madrid need another full-back when both Fabio Coentrao and Marcelo have not yet hit their peak.

There's no question that Cole could bring something to the Real squad, if he were added. But due to his links with Jose Mourinho in the past, his signing would make little sense if the manager is on his way out later in the year.

Cole has been linked with a move to PSG and there continue to be calls for Chelsea to extend his stay. At still only 32 years of age, the England left-back would be a great asset to a number of clubs. However, talk of a move to Real Madrid really do make very little sense.

Fabio Coentrao Leaving the Club

Off the bat, this one doesn't make any sense. Why would Real Madrid look to part company with Fabio Coentrao?

Putting aside the mammoth fee that was spent to bring the player in from Benfica—€30 million plus Ezequiel Garay—Coentrao is arguably in the top-five, best left-backs in Europe.

He serves a different purpose to the far more attack-minded Marcelo and has shown his versatility in the past in playing in the midfield.

The player has, of course, been in a battle with Marcelo for the starting position for the team, but the competition has been and will continue to be healthy for all concerned. Coentrao has already lifted the league title since arriving in La Liga, and with the prospect of many more successes in the future, why move when he appears to be settled?

Coentrao's performances for Portugal at the 2010 World Cup were evidently no fluke, and at just 24, there's certainly more to come from the player.